Tag Archives: weather forecast

Local, Weather

Here we snow again!

[KIRKLAND, Wash.] – (MTN) Record-setting cold temperatures have prevented the Christmas weekend snow and ice from melting with another round of light snow set to arrive on Thursday.

If you squint, measurable snow has fallen at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport every day since Sunday. The temperature dropped to 17 degrees on Monday, a record, and was 91 degrees colder than the all-time record high set on June 28 of 108 degrees.

For the Bellevue-Kirkland-Woodinville area, most of Wednesday night and Thursday will be in a protective rain shadow formed by the Olympic Mountains. Heavier snow will fall to our south, particularly away from Puget Sound.

Tomorrow will start off cold with temperatures between 21 and 24 degrees under mostly clear skies. The clouds will move in during the afternoon, with a high temperature of 28 to 31 degrees.

On Wednesday night, snow will surround the Puget Sound lowlands, but won’t arrive in the metro Seattle-Bellevue area until close to midnight. Lows will be 23 to 25 degrees. Hit and miss light snow showers will start to filter in from the south.

Snow showers turn into light snow during the morning commute hours on Thursday, with areas south of Kirkland receiving more. Total accumulation will be one to three inches through our forecast region, with most areas on the lower side. The forecast is very tricky with just the smallest change in storm track having a major impact on the Bellevue-Kirkland-Woodinville area.

Looking at the forecast models, the total predicted snowfall by Thursday varies a lot over short distances:

  • Bellevue – 2.5 inches
  • Bothell – <1.0 inch
  • Duvall – 3.0 inches
  • Finn Hill – 1.0 inch
  • Issaquah – 3.0 inches
  • Juanita – 1.0 inch
  • Kenmore – <1.0 inch
  • Kingsgate – 1.0 inch
  • Novelty Hill – 2.0 inches
  • Redmond – 1.5 inches
  • Rose Hill – 1.0 inch
  • Sammamish – 3.0 inches
  • Totem Lake – 1.0 inch
  • Yarrow Point – 2.5 inches

When making snowfall forecasts, a difference of 50 miles in the storm track can have a major impact, and at 50 miles you’re metaphorically threading a needle blindfolded. Additionally, the forecast is supportive of a convergence zone forming in the South Sound. If the snow bands wiggle north by 20 miles, our forecast area will see a lot more white stuff on the ground.

Highs will be 33 to 35 degrees, but our region shouldn’t reach the high while it is snowing.

The South Sound will get a lot more snow including SeaTac Airport, which will get three to four inches, adding to existing travel woes. Additionally, if your travel plans include the passes on Thursday prepare for major delays and very cold temperatures.

Thursday night will remain cloudy with lows dropping back into the mid-twenties.

New Year’s Eve will be partly cloudy with a high of 31 to 33 before clouding up in the evening. There is a slim chance for a snow shower on New Year’s Eve night, with lows dropping back into the mid-20s.

The long-range forecast hints at some more snow on Saturday before temperatures finally get above freezing and we return back to normal – cloudy, cold, and raining.

BIPOC, French Toast Emergency, Local, Weather

Widespread lowland snow will bring a White Christmas to Western Washington after all

[KIRKLAND, Wash.] – (MTN) A small shift in the storm track with a little more intensification means widespread snow across Western Washington is likely on Christmas Day into Sunday morning. After the system moves out, record low temperatures will plunge Washington state into the deep freeze creating dangerous conditions.

The I-405 corridor can expect one to four inches of snow, with some areas potentially seeing more. The Bellevue-Kirkland-Woodinville area will get three to five inches from Saturday morning to Sunday afternoon. To help the houseless, warming centers, overnight shelters, and housing vouchers are being provided across the county.

Friday morning the low-pressure system that will become our snowmaker was further south and a little stronger than what the models predicted yesterday. The National Weather Service has not issued any weather warnings for the Puget Sound lowlands at the time we went to press, but we expect Winter Weather Advisories for part of Saturday, Saturday night, and part of Sunday posted later today.

Christmas Eve started with a mix of sun and high clouds for the region, but that will be ending soon. Between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m., the rain will move into the area with wet snowflakes mixed in above 500 to 1,000 feet.

Friday night temperatures will drop close to freezing in the Bellevue-Kirkland-Woodinville area, Lows will be 33 to 35 and the rain should transition to wet snow for a few hours overnight. Drivers should be cautious, especially on side streets, hills, bridges, and overpasses.

The forecast for Christmas Day is more complex than yesterday. Your location and elevation will decide how much snow will fall during the day. The urban canyons of Bellevue and Seattle, along the shoreline of Puget Sound and Lake Washington, and area hot spots like Totem Lake will see more rain than snow. The hilltops such as Queen Anne, Finn Hill in Kirkland, and the foothills in Woodinville, Duvall, and Issaquah will see more snow. Precipitation will be in showers so some locations may be mostly dry while others could get dumped on. To complicate things further high temperatures will be 36 to 38 – a couple of degrees cooler will turn that rain/snow mix into mostly snow. Additionally, conditions are more favorable for a Convergence Zone to form in the evening. Expect one to two inches of snow, with the potential for a couple of areas to get higher amounts.

Saturday night the low-pressure area is now predicted to be just off the northeastern tip of Washington. Cold air will start to be pulled down from the Fraser Valley and light snow showers will fall through the region. Another one to two inches of snow will fall, while the urban canyons of Seattle and Bellevue will get more of a rain/snow mix. Temperatures will be 25 to 27 degrees, warmer in the urban cores, and roads will become slippery.

Sunday will be cold with widespread light snow across the region into the early afternoon. The change of about 100 miles in the location of the low-pressure area has boosted the amount of snow with two to three inches expected in the Bellevue-Kirkland-Woodinville area. It is too soon to predict if a convergence zone will form, but the models are more interesting than yesterday. Snow will taper off in the evening with highs between 28 and 30 degrees.

On Sunday night snow showers will end and our region will experience record-breaking cold under mostly cloudy skies. Lows will be 8 to 11 degrees. The record low at SeaTac is 20 and doesn’t stand a chance.

Monday will be partly cloudy and very cold, with a high of 22 to 25.

Monday night will be partly cloudy and cold, with temperatures from 13 to 15 degrees. The record low at SeaTac Airport is 12, so a tie isn’t out of the realm of possibility.

Tuesday will be a slight improvement under partly cloudy skies with a high of 28 to 30 degrees.

The outlook for the rest of the week is for temperatures ten to 15 degrees below normal through Thursday, with only a slight improvement in the long-range forecast. Your weather apps might be showing a snowflake on Thursday too, but it’s too far out to make a prediction.

Cold temperatures will bring life threatening conditions

Temperatures this low are life-threatening to the houseless and Seattle’s Human Services Department is opening two overnight shelters from Dec. 25 to Dec. 29. One shelter will be located at Seattle Center Exhibition Hall and can serve about 100 people, 18 and older including pets. The other is located in Pioneer Square and can serve 80 people, 18 and older. Additionally, the Salvation Army can accommodate up to 240 people at its shelter in SODO.

If you have children and live in King County, you can Parents can call the King County Emergency Family Shelter Intake Line at 206-245-1026 between 8 a.m. and 11:30 p.m. for assistance.

The City of Kirkland announced they will be providing hotel vouchers to the unhomed in the city as well as opening warming centers. Hotel vouchers are available by contacting the City of Kirkland, police, fire, or parks departments or by calling (425) 577-5656. For families living at the safe parking lot at the Lake Washington United Methodist Church, vouchers for extended stay hotels have been provided.

Warming centers will be available at the following locations.

  • North Kirkland Community Center
    • December 27 – 29, 1 PM to 4 PM
    • December 30, 8 AM to 12 PM
  • Peter Kirk Community Center
    • December 27 – 29, 8 AM to 5 PM
    • December 30, 8 AM to 12 PM
  • Kirkland City Hall
    • December 30, 8 AM to 12 PM

Temperatures this low will be a danger to pets and backyard livestock. Cats and dogs will need places to escape the cold, ideally inside your house. Water bowls for animals will freeze up in this weather making it impossible for them to drink water.

Outside faucets should have hoses disconnected and be covered or wrapped to protect them from freezing. Setting your faucets to the slowest trickle keeps water moving in your pipes preventing freezing. For sinks that face outside walls of your home, open the cabinet doors to allow warm air to circulate. Know where the water shutoff valve is for your house and make sure if you need a tool to use it, that you have one.

Extended cold is also hard on your car’s batteries. If the starter battery in your car is over four years old, the cold snap could spell the end of its useful life. Hybrid and electric vehicles can lose effective range when it is this cold. This happens due to physics impacting battery performance and the increased draw from the cabin heater, window defrosters, and comfort accessories like heated seats. If you find your range is deteriorating turning off the cabin heat and using heated seats to stay warm uses less power.

Local, Weather

Western Washington White Christmas chances are fading but historic cold lies ahead

[KIRKLAND, Wash.] – (MTN) Record low temperatures are coming to Western Washington even as the promise of a white Christmas along the I-405 corridor is fading away.

A weak low still promises to bring some snow into the Puget Sound lowlands late on Christmas Eve and Christmas Eve Night. After Saturday, dangerously cold air will settle into the region six months to the day after Seattle experienced three days of record-shattering heat.

Christmas Eve looks promises to be a typical December day in Washington – cold, wet, and dreary. There is a weak low currently at the very southeastern tip of Alaska that is moving along the British Columbia coast, and that will be our snowmaker later in the weekend. Winds will be breezy and from the south, as high temperatures struggle to reach 40 degrees. Rain will fall through most of the day.

Friday night temperatures will drop close to freezing in the Bellevue-Kirkland-Woodinville area, with the lowest temperatures at the highest points and away from the water. Lows will be 33 to 35 and drivers should be cautious for icy patches especially on bridges and overpasses. The center of low pressure will be around the southern tip of Vancouver Island.

The forecast for Christmas Day is complex. That weak low will drift across the Olympic Penisula and park over the Olympic Peninsula. Cold air will start to spill into Western Washington, with temperatures rising to 36 to 39 degrees, peaking around 11 a.m. Cold air is dry air, and there isn’t a lot of moisture or energy in this system to produce a lot of precipitation. Areas below 500 to 1000 feet should expect a mix of rain showers, graupel, and wet snowflakes. The highest hills in our region could see more flakes. By 5 p.m, temperatures will be approaching freezing, and snow showers will transition to rain. Side streets, overpasses, and highway ramps could get icy during this transition.

Saturday night the low-pressure area will have drifted further south and will be located off the northeast tip of Washington. The center of circulation will pump coastal moisture into the Puget Sound region as cold air starts to spill in from the Fraser Valley, causing widespread snow showers to form. Expect 1 to 2 inches of snow overnight. Convergence Zone forecasts are extremely difficult to make, however, there isn’t a lot of moisture nor wind dynamics that point to heavier snow bands being widespread. Temperatures will be 23 to 25 degrees. The record low at SeaTac Airport is 22, so it’s possible the record will get tied or broken.

Sunday will see snow showers moving out of the area by 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. as the low dissipates and moves into southwest Washington. It will remain cloudy with high temperatures reaching 28 to 30 degrees. There is a chance slight chance for a few stray flakes late in the day as the temperature drops and wrings out the remaining moisture from the low-pressure system. As it weakens and moves south, the floodgates for cold Fraser Valley air will open.

On Sunday night our region will experience record-breaking cold. The skies will partially clear allowing for radiational cooling and winds will shift out of the north pulling cold air from Canada into our region. Lows will be 13 to 16 degrees. The record low at SeaTac is 20 and doesn’t stand a chance. If the record low reaches 13 or colder, the difference between the high temperature of the year and the low temperature of the year will be 100 degrees or greater!

Monday will be one of the coldest days in years. The high temperature will only reach 19 to 22 degrees under partly cloudy skies. Winds will be light at 7 to 10 MPH, but enough to make the air feel like it can cut like a knife.

Monday night will be clear and cold, with temperatures from 12 to 14 degrees. The record low at SeaTac Airport is 12, so a tie isn’t out of the realm of possibility.

The outlook for next week is bitter cold through Thursday, which is the first day where high temperatures might reach freezing. Your weather apps might be showing a snowflake on that date too, but it’s too far out to make a prediction.

Temperatures this low are life-threatening to the houseless and Seattle’s Human Services Department is opening two overnight shelters from Dec. 25 to Dec. 29. One shelter will be located at Seattle Center Exhibition Hall and can serve about 100 people, 18 and older including pets. The other is located in Pioneer Square and can serve 80 people, 18 and older. Additionally, the Salvation Army can accommodate up to 240 people at its shelter in SODO.

If you have children and live in King County, you can Parents can call the King County Emergency Family Shelter Intake Line at 206-245-1026 between 8 a.m. and 11:30 p.m. for assistance.

Temperatures this low will be a danger to pets and backyard livestock. Cats and dogs will need places to escape the cold, ideally inside your house. Water bowls for animals will freeze up in this weather.

Outside faucets should have hoses disconnected and be covered or wrapped to protect them from freezing. Setting your faucets to the slowest trickle keeps water moving in your pipes preventing freezing. For sinks that face outside walls of your home, open the cabinet doors to allow warm air to circulate. Know where the water shutoff valve is for your house and make sure if you need a tool to use it, that you have one.

Extended cold is also hard on your car’s batteries. If the starter battery in your car is over four years old, the cold snap could spell the end of its useful life. Hybrid and electric vehicles can lose effective range when it is this cold. This happens due to physics impacting battery performance and the increased draw from the cabin heater, window defrosters, and comfort accessories like heated seats. If you find your range is deteriorating turning off the cabin heat and using heated seats to stay warm uses less power.

French Toast Emergency, Local, Weather

Here we blow again! Torrential rain and strong winds on tap for Friday night

[KIRKLAND, Wash.] – (MTN) Western Washington is under a series of weather warnings after a brief break from the rain, with winds up to 50 MPH and over an inch of rain on tap for Friday night and Saturday.

The National Weather Service has issued a Wind Advisory from 7 p.m. Friday to 10 a.m. Saturday the Bellevue area. Winds of 20 to 35 MPH with gusts to 50 MPH are expected overnight.

On Friday, scattered rain showers will transition to steady rain by nightfall. Winds will begin to increase through the evening as heavy rain develops. Temperatures will stay in the mid-40s.

Friday night rain will be heavy with winds peaking between 2 AM and 6 AM. Temperatures will remain in the mid-40s and up to an inch of rain is expected.

Winds will be from the south impacting Finn Hill, Juanita, Kenmore, and Kingsgate. Power outages in the usual eastside trouble spots are likely. Because the ground is saturated and can’t absorb much moisture, it won’t take much for the wind to knock down trees and create additional issues.

On Saturday the wind and rain with gradually taper off, but it will remain wet and breezy. Temperatures will hold steady in the mid-40s with winds from 10 to 15 MPH.

The weather models hint at some possible lowland snow next week, but we’re not very optimistic the region will see anything beyond a few wet flakes – for now.

French Toast Emergency, Local, Weather

Wind Advisory issued for the eastside – a lot of weather ahead today

[KIRKLAND] – (MTN) The National Weather Service added a Wind Advisory to the eastside at 7:36 a.m. through 4:00 p.m. today including Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland, Bothell, Kenmore, Newport Hills, Sahalee, and Pine Lake.

Temperatures in the Bellevue-Kirkland-Woodinville area were over 60 degrees as an intense flow of sub-tropical air was pushed ahead of an advancing cold front. The area has reached high temperatures for the day with the front advancing into our region.

Winds will be from the south and increase as the cold front approaches, and then shift to the southwest and west and intensify. Southwest winds will rise to 20 to 30 mph with gusts to 45 mph. The ground is extremely saturated, increasing the possibility of trees being blown down. Scatter power outages are likely as the morning progresses.

When the wind shifts to the southwest temperatures will drop and by sunset will be down to 45 degrees. Drivers should prepare for a long commute on Monday evening and give themselves some extra time. Heavy rain, landslide risk, and saturated soil can impact Sounder Train service, commuters should check on conditions in the evening and have an alternative plan for the return home.

Never drive around road closed or high water warning signs, especially in the dark. According to FEMA, a passenger car or car-based sport utility vehicle can stall out in six inches of water and start to float in 12. Even if you successfully drive through high water, moisture can get into critical mechanical components and foul lubricants causing long-term damage.

French Toast Emergency, Local, Weather

Wind and rain on Monday will bring more woe to the Puget Sound lowlands

[KIRKLAND] – (MTN) When it rains it pours and it has been pouring in Western Washington for almost a week with flood watches and warnings across the region. Monday will deliver yet another punch of heavy rain and the strongest winds yet driven along an atmospheric river extending out into the Pacific Ocean.

The forecast for tomorrow is extremely challenging with little agreement across weather models. The strongest winds will move through Central Puget Sound from 6 a.m. to noon on Monday. For wind storms, Malcontent News puts more weight on the Euro Model, which is forecasting a Wind Advisory grade event for the morning.

The National Weather Service has not issued a Wind Advisory at this time. On Sunday at Seatac Airport winds reached Wind Advisory territory for three hours, peaking with a gust of 42 MPH.

For Sunday night, the rain will increase between 11 p.m. and midnight with breezy winds from the south. It will be unseasonably warm, with low temperatures from 55 to 57. South winds will be 10 to 15 MPH with increasing gusts toward daybreak. Overnight rainfall will be around one-tenth of an inch.

Monday morning will be wet, windy, and warm. Temperatures will reach 57 to 59 degrees early in the day before dropping sharply in the afternoon. Winds will continue from the south from 15 to 25 MPH with gusts to 45 MPH. Rainfall with be close to three-quarters of an inch through the area, further saturating the soil.

Saturated soils combined with the wind will increase the chance of trees being uprooted, as well as enhance the landslide risk. Scattered power outages are likely. By sunset, the winds will die down along with the rain. Overnight temperatures will drop to 38 to 40 degrees.

Drivers should prepare for a long commute on Monday morning and give themselves some extra time. Heavy rain, landslide risk, and saturated soil can impact Sounder Train service, commuters should check on conditions in the morning and have an alternative plan for the return home.

People should never drive around road closed or high water warning signs, especially in the dark. According to FEMA, a passenger car or car-based sport utility vehicle can stall out in six inches of water and start to float in 12. Even if you successfully drive through high water, moisture can get into critical mechanical components and foul lubricants causing long-term damage.

Local, Weather

Bomb cyclone on Sunday kicks off 4 days of wet and windy weather

Photo credit: Zoom.Earth

[KIRKLAND] – (MTN) A string of powerful storms riding an atmospheric river will slam into the West Coast through Wednesday bringing high winds and heavy rain, but it appears Central Puget Sound will be spared.

It is possible we could see Wind Advisories for the Bellevue-Kirkland-Woodinville area on Sunday, Monday, or Tuesday. Right now, Monday is the most interesting day. A 50-mile change in the path of a fall wind storm can have a significant impact on our Puget Sound microclimates.

A “bomb cyclone” is developing to our west and will track north of Puget Sound and linger off Vancouver Island. The forecasted storm track is getting more consistent across the weather models this afternoon but there remains some disagreement.

The North American Mesoscale (NAM) model is forecasting the center will come closer to the Washington coast. If the NAM is correct, winds will be around 5 MPH higher than the current forecast. That isn’t quite enough for a Wind Advisory, but it is close. Additionally, the NAM model supports winds from the south, which enhances the impact for residents of Juanita, Finn Hill, and Kenmore.

Sunday morning will start off dry with wind and rain increasing by noon. Bellevue-Kirkland-Woodinville can expect winds up to 20 MPH that last for three to six hours. The storm system will linger off the coast as it heads towards Vancouver Island, creating blustery conditions overnight. Temperatures will be 56 to 59 degrees and expect up to a third of an inch of rain.

Sunday night temperatures will be 47 to 49 degrees, with winds of 10 to 15 MPH.

Monday looks a lot more interesting but there remains disagreement in the weather models. The Global Forecast System (GFS) is more conservative for storm development while the NAM, ECMWF, and ICON are in agreement a significant wind event is coming to the Straight of Juan de Fuca, the San Juan Islands, and North Washington. We believe this is the day to keep an eye out for a Wind Advisory and could create spotty power outages in the Central Puget Sound lowlands.

Bellevue-Kirkland-Woodinville will see south winds of 15 to 20 MPH and higher gusts. Peak winds will last for up to 12 hours, starting close to lunchtime. South winds move unobstructed across Lake Washington impacting Juanita, Finn Hill, and Kenmore more than other areas. Expect up to half an inch of rain with temperatures from 55 to 57 degrees.

Many leaves remain on trees that suffered significant heat stress over the summer so it won’t take much to bring limbs down.

Monday night temperatures will drop to 48 to 50 degrees and rain will turn to showers. Winds will still be 5 to 15 MPH and continue from the south.

Tuesday another system will arrive along Vancouver Island. This one doesn’t look as strong as Monday’s system, but there is a fair amount of uncertainty in the weather models. Winds will be 10 to 20 MPH for the Bellevue-Kirkland-Woodinville area with up to a half-inch of rain. Temperatures will cool with highs between 53 and 55.

Looking into the crystal ball for the trick or treaters on Halloween, the weather forecast is looking perfect with no rain and highs in the 50s dropping to the mid-40s.

Local, Weather

Special Delivery! Fall weather arrives with a wet and windy weekend ahead

[KIRKLAND, Wash.] – (MTN) After a rollercoaster summer of record-shattering heat, a tie for the driest July since weather records have been kept, and 51 days without rain, fall is arriving. A particularly strong storm system for mid-September is delivering three days of rain, the potential for urban flooding, and strong winds on Friday afternoon.

The central pressure of the storm approaching is flirting with 990 MB, which is similar to Hurricane Nicholas that hit Texas on September 14. For the Kirkland-Bellevue-Woodinville area, the two issues will be rain through the weekend and wind this afternoon.

It’s already raining across the region, and rain will fall through the day, with the chance for heavy showers and even a growl of thunder. Over lunchtime, there could be a break in the rain, but don’t be fooled. Between 3 to 5 PM will the rain will pick up, get heavier, and the winds will increase. Peak winds will be between 7 PM and 10 PM at 15 to 20 MPH, with gusts up to 40 MPH.

The heatwave in June followed by very little rain has stressed many trees that are still full of leaves. Between the heat stress and the foliage that can act like sails, the usual trouble spots such as Finn Hill should expect to lose power. There isn’t enough wind in the forecast model in Central Puget Sound for a Wind Advisory, but areas north of Everett could see gusts over 50 MPH.

Temperatures will be in the low to mid-60s. Over the next 24 hours, close to an inch of rain should be expected for the area.

Rain will taper off briefly on Saturday morning, while the wind will continue into the afternoon. Another shot of rain will arrive around noon, and you should expect rain through Sunday. On Saturday another 1/3 of an inch is expected, with another 1/3 on Sunday. If the forecast model holds, our region will get a month of rain in 3 days, in what will feel like a repeat of our major rain event back on June 13-14.

Temperatures will hold in the mid-60s during the day and the mid-50s during the night.

Rain could get heavy enough to cause some minor urban flooding in locations such as 120th in Kirkland in front of Fred Meyer.

Local, Weather

Here we go again, record-setting heatwave to sear Seattle a second time

[KIRKLAND, Wash.] – (MTN) The Seattle area is poised to break 100 degrees for the fourth time this summer, with a significant heatwave forecasted for the rest of the week. The National Weather Service issued an Excessive Heat Warning, including the Puget Sound Lowlands, from noon on Wednesday to 7 PM on Saturday.

A ridge of high pressure is building over the Pacific Ocean, bringing eyebrow-raising heat to our region, but not as hot as the record-shattering heatwave in June. Temperatures broke 100 degrees three days in a row earlier this year during a historic heatwave that shattered all-time temperature records from Alaska to California. 

In addition to the heat, Western Washington can expect some smoke to move into the region. High-pressure areas circulate counter-clockwise, which will pull smoke up from Southern Oregon and Northern California. Thursday and Friday are looking to be the worst days, but they won’t be like last year’s conditions. Most of it will be aloft, but some near-surface smoke is supported in the models. One other plot twist, the smoke is making Friday’s forecast pretty challenging.

Wednesday will start with partly cloudy skies and a low around 60 degrees F. in the Kirkland-Bellevue-Woodinville area. Temperatures will reach 87 to 90 degrees F. The usual hot spots of Totem Lake, Kingsgate, and the urban canyons of downtown Bellevue will likely get to the 90 degrees F. mark.

Wednesday night temperatures will drop to 62 to 64 degrees F. in our area. We’ll get a bit of offshore flow overnight, making it a bit uncomfortable, and pulling smoke into our region.

Thursday will see high temperatures from 95 to 98 degrees F. with increasingly hazy skies. The dewpoint will be around 60 degrees F., making it feel a little sticky. The air quality will decline to moderate with PM 2.5 in the 55 to 70 range. The record high is 96.

Thursday night will see high-altitude smoke continue to thicken, which will act as a blanket. Nighttime temperatures will be uncomfortable, with lows from 66 to 68 F. Winds will be near calm, with a slight offshore flow. As the air cools, some of that vertically integrated smoke will sink, and there isn’t much wind to circulate the air. The air quality will be moderate, with PM 2.5 in the 70 to 90 range.

Friday’s forecast is a tough call. The more smoke in the air, the more it will help lower high temperatures. The high-pressure area will continue to drive eastward, and the wind will shift to be more west-northwest during the day or early evening. High temperatures on Friday will be 97 to 100 degrees F. for the Kirkland-Bellevue-Woodinville area, which is 15 to 20 degrees above normal. If the smoke is thicker than the models indicate, shaving a few degrees from the high is possible. The air quality will be moderate, with PM 2.5 will be in the 55 to 70 range. I would expect to have the hazy orange glow we’ve seen a few times this year during the day. The record high is only 91 and is destined to be shattered.

Friday night won’t offer much relief again, but the smoke will begin to be pushed out. Lows will be 65 to 67 F. Air quality will be good to moderate, with PM 2.5 in the 40 to 60 range.

Saturday looks to be our fourth day in a row where the area will hit 90 degrees F. Highs will be 89 to 92, with clouds building in the afternoon as marine air pushes in from the coast. 

In June, we reached out to King County Health and other area experts to get advice on dealing with extreme heat. If you don’t have access to air conditioning, we can’t promise these tips will keep you from being miserable, but they will help keep you safe.

Health and Lifestyle, Local

A smoky heatwave is on the horizon

[KIRKLAND, Wash] – (MTN) After a few brushes with smoke this summer which gave us orange skies and bright sunsets, forecast models are pointing to the region’s luck running out next week. After tying the second-longest dry streak in Seattle history and a cool wet weekend ahead, Seattle’s smoke season appears to be arriving next week.

A shift in the wind next week coupled with our second heatwave of 2021, will bring increasing amounts of beginning late Tuesday.

The week will begin pleasantly. Monday’s high will be around 80 degrees for the Kirkland-Bellevue-Woodinville area under partly cloudy skies. Monday night will provide good sleeping weather, with lows in the high 50s.

Tuesday will begin a warmup as winds shift and start pulling smoke from British Columbia into the lowlands. Temperatures will climb into the mid-80’s. Air quality should remain good with most of the smoke remaining aloft.

Wednesday air quality will start to decline and with smoke, increasing high temperatures get harder to forecast. The computer weather models don’t do a good job of considering significant surface or high altitude smoke. Temperatures will be 86 to 88 degrees, however, if smoke is thick aloft, they could moderate.

Thursday and Friday are still a bit too far out to predict accurately, but confidence is high that we will have our second hottest heatwave of the year. If it wasn’t for our historic event in June, this would be a bigger topic. Thursday looks to be in the mid-90s and Friday the high 90s – which would be record-breaking heat. There is a good chance we will have an offshore flow, which will pull smoke from eastern Washington over the Cascades.

If the region gets significant smoke similar to 2017, 2018, and 2020, the high temperatures could moderate by 4 to 6 degrees. The worse the air quality gets, the cooler it will get. But with computer models indicating 96 to 99 degrees without smoke for Kirkland-Bellevue-Woodinville on Friday, cool will be relative.

The best way to protect yourself during smoke season is to limit your time outdoors. A tight-fighting N95 mask provides the best protection. If you don’t have air conditioning, you can set up a clean room in your home with a portable air conditioner and a box fan with a furnace filter to make an air purifier. You can read more about preparing for the smoke season in this story from 2019.